Senate Approves Robbins' Bill to Restore Alt-Ed Funding

Mercer County legislators filing bills to help specialized charter schools

The Senate today approved legislation introduced by Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) to restore essential state funding to support alternative education charter schools.

Senate Bill 1277 clarifies that charter schools that provide alternative education services as their primary mission are eligible for alternative education grant funds. The measure now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Pennsylvania's alternative education charter schools had received state funding since Fiscal Year 1999-2000, but the Department of Education recently determined under the current statutes they are not eligible for that money.

"This bill puts the proper language in place to restore state funding for these important programs," Senator Robbins said. "I am pleased that the Senate quickly moved this bill and I hope the House will act with the same swiftness to push it through the legislative process. The truth is these programs are extremely successful parts of the educational system and they deserve to receive this support."

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322